Activities Night will be held in SSMU on Thursday, January 19. Stop by to be part of a jhr workshop, or simply to say hello and learn more about the club. Looking forward to seeing you there!

General Meeting

Stay tuned for the date and time of our bi-annual general meeting. Everyone (new members, old members, anyone who thinks they might be interested in jhr) is welcome to come out to this event. Exec will discussing their portfolios and plans for the semester, and there will be an opportunity to talk to the exec and join their teams. We always welcome new members!

Rights in Black and White

Come out to jhr’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Friday, January 20th at Muzique nightclub! This is a formal event – come dressed to impress in your best black and white! Tickets are 7$ and can be purchased in advance by calling/texting Inna at 514-594-2449 or stay tuned for tabling locations next week. Join the facebook event here. Ladies get free drinks before midnight!

Highlights from last semester

A big shout out to everyone who was involved in any way with jhr last semester. We had a hugely successful term. For just a few examples of the work we accomplished, visit the Newspaper page to read two new issues of Speak, or the Advocacy page to see a video produced for Hollerday. Also stay tuned for our very own TV team’s documentary, coming soon!

HOLLER
On Nov 1st and 2nd (Tue and Wed), we will be set up in the SSMU kiosk from 11 am to 5 pm with information on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its effect on lives/communities. We will have a video camera to record your “holler” for a short video. Come speak your mind on the use of sexual violence in warfare, who needs to be held accountable, the importance of the media in regards to human rights, etc. Anyone can come learn and give their input! When you participate, you will get discounted admission to…

DRINK
Come grab some drinks on Thursday, November 3rd at Brutopia (1215 Crescent St, 10 pm, come to the second floor). For just $5 (and only $2 if you come “holler” at SSMU!), you can enjoy some fantastic live music from Pat Lesyk and HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS ALL NIGHT! You’ll have an awesome time and all of your friends are going. See you there!

——
All funds raised on HollerDay will go towards Journalists for Human Rights’ efforts to pressure local authorities in the Congo to protect women, men and children from being raped. jhr has been working with local media in the DRC for the past three years. As a result, there has been greater media exposure and demands for accountability.

The answer is simple, HOLLER.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been called the Rape Capital of the World, thousands upon thousands of women are victims of sexual violence every year.

This HollerDay, March 4th, make as much noise and raise as much money as possible to make real, sustainable change in the DRC. Every dollar you raise will go directly to supporting women’s rights in the Congo.

Every dollar donated will go directly to jhr (Journalists for Human Rights) programs fighting widespread rape and other forms of sexual abuse in the DRC.

jhr is Canada’s largest international media development organization. jhr’s goal – to make everyone in the world fully aware of their rights – is as unique as it is powerful. Creating rights awareness is the first and most necessary step to ending rights abuses. By mobilizing the media to spread human rights awareness, jhr informs people about human rights, empowering marginalized communities to stand up, speak out and protect themselves.

Go to hollerday.ca to raise your voice.

Education issue coming soon…  SPEAK! issue 7.2

Posted on jhr.ca by justineabigail on December 13, 2010

Rights in Review is jhr’s bi-annual peer-reviewed academic journal. Through scholarship addressing human rights awareness and improving peace and security, jhr looks to provide a forum to exchange ideas from a variety of perspectives regarding the pressing human rights and social justice issues of our day.  This volume of Rights in Review aims to address themes around media and development and how the Communication Age and its many tools are aiding in the advancement of human rights.

We are now accepting submissions for our 3rd volume of Rights in Review until January 30th, 2011.  For a full list of guidelines please click here.

All submitted articles will be subject to an impartial, peer-review process, in addition to an anti-plagiarism program.

For more information, please contact our Youth Engagement Coordinator Ken Zolotar at ken@jhr.ca

Want to work a human rights documentary film festival?

We are looking for:

Media Coordinator

He/she will be responsible for the coordination and follow through of local press releases, community news, McGill out reach, etc. The coordinator will be working with the JHR head office for major media outlet distribution as well. The coordinator will also be responsible for creating and maintaining a social media presence. We’re looking for someone organized with promotional experience and communication skills. Bilingualism is an asset.

Sponsorship Coordinator

He/she will be responsible for the recruitment of sponsors, but mainly establishing working relationships with sponsors. We’re looking for someone personable with strong communication skills. Bilingualism is an asset.

Community Partnership Recruiter

He/she will be the link between JHR and other organizations partnering with us on DOCFEST. The recruiter will be networking with like-minded organizations and will be responsible for cross-organizational promotion and cooperation. He/she will work in tandem with the Media Coordinator. Again, the recruiter should preferably have strong communication and organizational skills. Bilingualism is an asset.

Graphic Computer Designer

We need the designer to help aestheticize the website, and design for the promotional activities of DOCFEST. We’re open to different skill sets.

Treasurer

He/she should be comfortable with overseeing all inflows and outflows of cash – must be highly organized, and readily available as finances concern all parts of the organization of DOCFEST.

Please submit a CV and letter of intent to mtldocfest@gmail.com by January 31^th if interested. Please indicate the position(s) you are applying for in the e-mail subject. The film festival is scheduled for sometime in early April, so please only apply if you will be available for the majority of the winter semester.

THANKS!

JHRDOCFEST

Journalists for Human Rights Concordia: Official call-out for submissions

Journalists for Human Rights, Concordia will be hosting a spoken word/ poetry reading/ word artists‘ Night4Rights on February 12, 9-11:30 pm at Shaika Cafe in NDG.
The goal is to raise awareness on human rights, using our ability with words in any form, so that everyone can enjoy living with dignity.

We are currently looking for submissions on any human rights-related topic, such as, but not limited to:
~~ local – international – war – peace – poverty – environment – rant- water – pollution – food – trade – labour – politics – health – sanitation – academic – financial – law- professional – age – race – gender ~~

Write something new, or submit something that has stood the test of time.
Music is also welcome.
There are no guidelines – please be creative.
Have your say.
Multiple submissions are welcome from everyone.

The deadline for submissions is 7 pm on February 10
Submit to jhr.concordia@gmail.com

jhr McGill would like to remind you about the upcoming General Meeting on Monday, Jan. 24^th, at 6pm in the Lev Bukhman room of SSMU.

Execs from every portfolio (newspaper, radio, TV, advocacy, and events) will be there to discuss plans for the upcoming semester.  Bring your ideas and get involved!

During the meeting, we will also be electing a new VP Events and VP Newspaper to take take over the positions this semester.  Please read over the candidate’s pen sketches below and come vote!

See you on Monday!

Candidates for VP Newspaper…

Safiya Kassam

Throughout my high school years I was an active writer and later editor of our school’s newspaper. I hope to extend the organizational skills and punctuality that I acquired during my experience to JHR’s publications. Furthermore, I headed a fundraising committee for DECA (a high school business club) and was able to learn to delegate and lead a committee of people. In the Gamma Phi Beta (sorority) chapter at McGill I have taken upon the role of Alumnae Co-ordinator and Crescent Correspondent- continuing to write to sorority newsletters and encouraging open communication between the chapter and its international community. I hope to extend my experience to Journalists for Human Rights, continuing to highlight issues that pertain to the JHR Chapter and incorporate any new ideas offered by members.

Nastasha Sartore

My name is Nastasha Sartore, and I am an aspiring journalist and keen second year student, studying political science and history. My interests, however, extend beyond the realms of political theory and early modern Europe- I am an avid blogger, and love trip-hop, the New York Times, nail polish, Hello Kitty, and exploring gender issues, among other things. I have been involved with Journalists for Human Rights since September, and have loved every moment of it! I have just started writing for the Daily as well, which puts me one step further to reaching my journalistic endeavours. In high school, I was also a contributor and editor for our somewhat unorthodox school paper.

I am passionate, dedicated, and, a bit quirky which, I like to think, adds just a touch of charm to my writing. I am excited to learn, and do so quickly. I also love to talk, and am forever committed to keeping an open mind!

With this said, I’d love to bring some new ideas to Speak!. Since freedom of expression is, I believe, one of the most important liberties we hold, I’d like to explore this idea, and perhaps delve into new forms of journalistic expression. Without going too much into detail, I really hope that I can bring to the VP newspaper position a new perspective and a whole lot of charisma!

Antonia Burchard-Levine

I am a second year student double majoring in East Asian Studies and International Development Studies. I got involved with JHR last semester at the three day “Train-the-Trainer” workshop in early October. This gave me the opportunity to learn ways of using the media along with different instruments in order to bring awareness on human rights issues. I also got the chance to meet JHR members from across Canada and members of the head office in Toronto. After that I joined both the advocacy team as well as the newspaper team. With the advocacy team I helped plan out, prepare and set up a photo exhibit and did research for a letter-writing campaign for speak- silence week last semester. I have also helped with and attended various JHR events including film screenings and panel discussions.With the newspaper team I contributed an article for JHR’s Speak! Magazine for the issue on “freedom of assembly” and also helped with the general editing of that same issue.  I also contributed to the general editing as well as the copy editing for the second issue this year which was on mental health.

I really look forward to continue working with JHR while I complete my studies at McGill. I believe that my previous involvement demonstrate my dedication and my enthusiasm towards the JHR cause.

I believe that as VP newspaper I will be able use my passion for journalism as well as the experience I have acquired with JHR to continue to publish issues of Speak! magazine at McGill. I hope to use as well as improve my editing skills to deliver articles promoting human rights awareness through the McGill Chapter issues of Speak!. I look forward to continue working with JHR to mobilize media and bring human rights awareness at McGill.

Emily Lennon

For me, journalism means story telling. It provides a space for exchanging ideas, for debating and most importantly for learning about the world around us. My experience with JHR began last semester when I wrote an article for the issue on mental health and then assisted with copy editing. The possibilities for this newspaper excite me; especially concerning the opportunities for collaboration with JHR radio and other McGill groups. I would aim to involve JHR with the local community by way of workshops with high school students as well as contribution from the community and neighbouring universities (both French and English). My interest with journalism began in junior high school and developed in high school where a University of Alberta leadership conference introduced me to JHR. The Edmonton Journal publishes a weekly page by high school students called Next Gen. I began writing for NextGen in grade 9 and continued throughout high school. I was also on my high school’s writing team for another section of the Edmonton Journal called CAPPIES, where we reviewed high school theatre productions. In my own school, I wrote sporadically for the student union newspaper and contributed to our social justice zine. This experience, along with my studies in anthropology and passion for social justice offer a perspective rooted in the importance of storytelling- of truth telling. In short, I offer an enthusiasm for creative collaboration, a knack for organization and an inquisitive nature. Together, we can pose questions to critically explore our world and even better yet- to incite change.

For everyone who is excited to be involved in Speak Silence (or who is supportive but can’t imagine keeping quiet for more than 10 minutes), you can now collect pledges (or sponsor your friends!) online here!

If you haven’t signed up for Speak Silence yet, you can here!

SOCIAL JUSTICE JOURNALISM: Amy Miller & Derek MacCuish
Friday, November 5th, 7pm
Leacock 219, McGill University

Amy Miller is a media maker and social justice organizer based in Montréal. She directed the documentaries ‘Myths for Profit: Canada’s Role In Industries of War and Peace’ and ‘Outside of EUrope’ which were produced by Wide Open Exposure the company she co-runs. She has worked extensively with The Dominion and The Media Co-op and other independent media projects across North America.

Derek MacCuish has been with the Social Justice Committee of Montreal (SJC) since the early 1990s, editing the Upstream Journal and coordinating programs on economic policy and international institutional reform. He was formerly adjunct professor at Concordia University (2000-2007), teaching seminars on global governance. He has guided the development of the Upstream Journal from a newsletter for SJC donors to a nationally distributed commercial magazine. He oversees the work of volunteers and interns who prepare the journal’s content while receiving training in journalism.